On Being Called Doctor

Originally Posted by ebbwvale

I have wondered why medical practitioners are allowed the title of Doctor, yet no thesis, even in a literature review format, is ever presented by them. They have been joined by dentists, again, not thesis or literature review.

Why then are other professions denied the title of Doctor for advanced learning in terms of practice unless they have completed a research component? how often have I heard medical practitioners use the words"practice based knowledge" as opposed to "research based evidence", indicating the difference between two worlds.There is a difference between a professional doctorate and a PhD. I don't see why a professional doctorate requires any thesis as the medicos and dentists have been awarded the title for years without going that route.

I think the important issue for professional doctorates is the ability to be able to interpret research and then turn into practice or a product. They should leave the research to PhDs. The gap often occurs when the researcher reports a new finding, but there is a difficulty incorporating it into practice. Good researchers are just that, not necessarily, good at translating findings into practice or product. The professional doctorate should bridge that gap.

With that view, the ability to interpret research literature and project to practice is more a critical element than being able to do the research itself. This doctorate is increasingly important to research as much good research is never used because of an inability to see its worth for practice or to implement it in practice. PhD's should applaud the graduates of professional doctorates as they will ensure that the PhD's have jobs. They are complementary, not competitive. The same yardstick should not be used to measure them.
Acknowledging my limited knowledge of DETC, I understand that they only accredit professional doctorates, not PhD's. They may be aiming at industry not academia and see the differences between the two doctorates. They have chosen the applied science track, not the research one.

This may not help resolve the issue with the university in question, but, perhaps, it may assist in assessing the value of these sorts of doctorates and why there seemingly may be less emphasis on the research component.

Check this out:

Originally Posted by George E. Berkley

A lawyer friend of mine received a notice from his old law school. It jubilantly informed him that for the price of $25 he could exchange his bachelor of laws degree for a jurum doctor. He found the offer somewhat puzzling.

"After getting my LL.B., I went on to another law school and earned a master of laws degree," he said. "If I take advantage of this offer, I will have a doctorate, but it will be a lower degree than my master's."

"I can't quite make any academic sense out of such a situation," he concluded. It doesn't make academic sense, but it does illustrate an American social phenomenon: doctorhood has become the rage.

Funny conversation I witnessed at my friend's wedding reception. My friend (the bride) recently graduated as a vet. The groom's mother, had a PhD in chemistry, but has long since retired, and doesn't leave the house much anymore.

You're right, I've never earned any degree that would allow me to be referred to as Doctor. I probably never will. At the same time I recognize that there have been mutiple threads on this and other boards with people trying to find some way that they can legitimately refer to themselves or ask others to refer to them as Doctor. You might have noticed that this phenomenon, people seeking that honorific just for the sake of the title, is what is at the core of this very thread. In such cases I think it is very much an ego trip. Also, we frequently get people trying to find the cheapest, easiest PhD programs in the world. They come up with all sorts of exotic schools and programs and want to know "is it legit?" Clearly they are not interested in engaging in a rigorous course of study and research that adds to the knowledge base of their chosen field. They just want the letters after their name = ego trip. As for your hostile "Get over it" comment I'd just say that I expressed my opinion in a civil manner without any rancor toward anyone in particular. It's unfortunate that you couldn't do the same.

Yes, I agree, Kizmet. Some people seek the title for the ego purposes. In fact, I think it is one of two major drivers behind diploma mills. (The other is to fool employers.)

But I am disappointed in those who do not hold the title, yet seek to reduce those of us who do. I don't claim any special treatment. But I would appreciate the courtesy of being addressed as "doctor" when appropriate. And I'm not impressed when people who don't have that title strive to pull others down for no other reason than that they hold that title. It smacks of jealousy, and I certainly don't want to bring that out in anyone, for what I and others have done should most certainly not be a subject of jealousy.

I've carried another title around since 1987 related to my military service. I remain that guy, too. In most situations in my life, being addressed as "doctor" or "captain" is irrelevant. In a few others, it is. When it is, please accord me that bit of acknowledgement. In the vast majority of cases, however, it just doesn't matter or (in a few others) it is actually inappropriate.

Rich, you can call yourself "Doctor" as often as you wish without any concern of criticism from me. You and a number of our other members have well-earned that term and are entitled to use it. However, people who cheapen the title by buying some watered down version of the degree (that is the subject of this thread) are simply insecure and need that ego trip to help them feel good about themselves. At least that is my opinion. As in everything else in our world, there are exceptions, but I believe that to be the general rule.

From now on, everyone should refer to me as Associate Craniac. Don't get too used to it, because in just a few months, I will be Double Bachelor Craniac. In fact, I'm naming my first son after all of the initialisms my signature happens to posess when the birth occurs.

BA, Social Sciences ---- The University Formerly Known As Thomas Edison State College

"If you aren't going to use your heart, then what's the difference if it gets broken?"

- Kevin McCallister (portrayed by Macaulay Culkin), Home Alone 2: Lost In New York

From now on, everyone should refer to me as Associate Craniac. Don't get too used to it, because in just a few months, I will be Double Bachelor Craniac. In fact, I'm naming my first son after all of the initialisms my signature happens to posess when the birth occurs.

I call people what they want to be called...if someone has a legitimately-accredited doctorate, I default to address them as "Doctor" unless they tell me otherwise. I had one professor at MSPP who said she didn't care if we addressed her by her first name or "Doctor (last name)", so I chose to address her as Doctor, out of respect.

I had another professor who insisted on being addressed by his first name, so I did that, although I wasn't really comfortable with it. In my opinion, if you earned a legitimate doctorate, then you've earned the right to be addressed as "Doctor" in formal and semi-formal situations.

I said that last part because if any doctoral members here who come to Boston actually take me up on my standing offer to buy them dinner/beer/coffee, I'm not addressing them as "Doctor ____" during our conversation.

We frequently get people trying to find the cheapest, easiest PhD programs in the world. They come up with all sorts of exotic schools and programs and want to know "is it legit?" Clearly they are not interested in engaging in a rigorous course of study and research that adds to the knowledge base of their chosen field. In such cases, I think it is very much an ego trip.

There is a preacher on TV named Jack Van Impe. All of the sudden, he is now "Dr." Jack Van Impe and his wife (Rexela) is now suddenly addressed as "Dr." too. They purchased their doctorates from Pacific International University, which has no accreditation. Doctorates are offered for a lump sum payment ranging from $2,500-3,000 for a Doctor of Theological Studies degree. This demonstrates the inherent urge that people have to want to elevate their prestige and credibility with the title "Dr." It also demonstrates an unfortunate lack of knowledge on what a bonafide doctorate really is.

People with earned doctorate have earned the respect to be call doctors. Why is having an ego a bad thing? A person with an earned doctorate should have an ego. Earning a doctorate is the ultimate self- sacrifice. It was years in the making. As student of education , we should honored those who have made it to the pinnacle. They have reached the mountain's top that's where I can to be. I want to see what they are seeing. Those people at the mountain top have my respect, because the majority of us have given up reaching the top.

GW University is a prestigious and well regarded school. Established in the heart of the nation's capital in 1821, GW provides innovative programs in more than 200 fields of study, including graduate certificate, master's and doctoral programs. Under the guidance of a world-renowned faculty, you will explore both theory and practice in courses that prepare you to meet the needs of an increasingly complex society.

I see a lot of threads on the NCU discussion forum where people talk about finally being able to call themselves doctor. It does seem a little ego trippy to me. I think the title is most appropriate in an educational context. I would never expect my coworkers, manager, friends, neighbors etc to call me doctor. My buddy is a DPT and his patients call him doctor but nobody else does.

I really thought when I finished my PhD I would want everybody to call me Dr. in the academic environment. Turns out that I prefer students call me Randell and all my communications with them is signed as Randell. If they call me Dr., I don't "correct" them as I see it as a sign of respect no different than calling me Mr.

I call people what they want to be called...if someone has a legitimately-accredited doctorate, I default to address them as "Doctor" unless they tell me otherwise. I had one professor at MSPP who said she didn't care if we addressed her by her first name or "Doctor (last name)", so I chose to address her as Doctor, out of respect.

I had another professor who insisted on being addressed by his first name, so I did that, although I wasn't really comfortable with it. In my opinion, if you earned a legitimate doctorate, then you've earned the right to be addressed as "Doctor" in formal and semi-formal situations.

I said that last part because if any doctoral members here who come to Boston actually take me up on my standing offer to buy them dinner/beer/coffee, I'm not addressing them as "Doctor ____" during our conversation.

The key word is " legitimate ". As pointed out above, to many people get a degree mill PhD and want to be called doctor.